Life in US proves truly enriching for Hensby

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Second chance: Mark Hensby at the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Georgia, in April where he finished second. Photo: AP

He is not the best known Australian golfer but, with more than $US1million in earnings this year, Mark Hensby is among the best paid, writes Peter Stone.

Last time round, as a card-carrying member of the US PGA Tour, Mark Hensby was barely noticed, winning $US155,629 ($215,866) to finish 186th on the 2001 money list.

This year, the 33-year-old from Tamworth has become a millionaire. Hensby, a stranger in his own country who left for America with a dream more than a decade ago, with little form as an amateur save for being a member of the NSW junior team, is the stunning success story at the halfway mark of 2004 on both the US and European tours.

So far, his earnings are $US1,308,391, which has left the far more fashionable names of Robert Allenby, Craig Parry, Stephen Leaney and Peter Lonard in his wake on the US money list, where he holds 28th spot and is already guaranteed a player's card in 2005.

His best finish is second in the BellSouth Classic and he has two tied thirds, including last week's Western Open in Chicago.

The top 125 on the money list retain their cards for next year and, last year, the 125th player earned $US487,495. That can be taken as a guide to what is needed this year, although it might be slightly higher because, in 2003, four players - Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III and Mike Weir - took a fair slice of the winning cheques, with 15 victories among them.

Scott is exempt for five years as The Players champion, while Appleby and Parry, as tournament winners this year, have two-year exemptions.

Steve Elkington, though, languishing in 152nd spot on the money list with $US177,050, is also exempt through to 2007 for winning the 1997 Players Championship.

But, for the other Australians in the US, there is still work to be done. And, at the end of the year, Greg Norman's exemption to the US Tour, courtesy of winning the 1994 Players Championship, expires. These days, he is very much a part-timer anyway, playing just five tournaments so far this year, including last week's Western Open, and making the cut just once. His lowest total in 11 rounds is 72 and, for those 11 rounds, he is 34 over par.

The Shark is 50 next February and has no inclination to play week in, week out on the Champions Tour, but has said he will play several of the senior majors.

Of course, he won't need to go down on bended knee to ask for an invitation to tournaments. His record speaks for itself.

In Europe, the pacemakers among the Australians at the halfway mark of the year are Nick O'Hern (10th on the money list), Richard Green (13th) and Peter O'Malley (18th) but, unlike on the US Tour, no Australian has won so far in Europe in 2004. Green has threatened in the past couple of weeks, finishing tied for second in both the French and European Opens.

With around €160,000 ($274,283) required to finish in the top 116 and retain a card for next year, other Australians likely to keep the wolf from the door in 2005 are Terry Price, Marcus Fraser, Brad Kennedy and Peter Fowler.